Crews saw increased fire activity Tuesday on Caldor Fire

Firefighters observed an increase in active fire today in the Strawberry Creek and Caples Creek areas today due to the warm, dry weather. Gusty winds over the fire have caused pine needles and small branches to fall into lingering heat sources causing them to flare up. In anticipation of the weather conditions, crews were strategically staged, ready to engage in the areas most impacted by high winds.

Todays increased fire activity was anticipated. The California Interagency Incident Management Team 12 staffs a Fire Behavior Analysts who provides fire behavior and fire activity forecasts for a three period to assist in current and near term strategic operational planning. Based on these forecasts, and in anticipation of the increased fire activity, the team placed orders for additional firefighting resources including 10 additional fire engines and five Type One Interagency Hotshot Crews. Three of these Hotshot crews will begin working on the fire tomorrow. Low humidity levels and gusty winds will continue to create challenging fire conditions for the next several days.

Downslope winds had continued throughout the night and into this morning, with this increase firefighters saw elevated fire activity in the early morning hours northeast of Caples Lake. Single and group tree torching, and uphill runs caused an increase in fire size. During the night, crews engaged when and where safe, working to extinguish these heat sources. It has been challenging and slow going into areas where there is unc-ontained fire due to the steep and rocky terrain.

The Numbers:
Size: 219,578 acres
Containment: 76%
Structures Threatened: 5,465
Structures Damaged: 81
Single Residences Destroyed: 782
Commercial Properties Destroyed: 18
Other Minor Structures Destroyed: 203
Personnel on the fire: 1,555
Engines: 89
Water tenders: 45
Helicopters: 8
Handcrews: 26
Dozers: 33
Other: 58